Google has announced some new features available for its OpenID API. As some of our readers may remember, earlier this year Google released a "Hybrid Protocol" API that combines an OpenID federated login with OAuth access authorization. The API has been enhanced with some extended Attribute Exchange fields and a pop-up user interface for the user-facing approval page.

Rainmaker, which provides an identity API to get more information about a person’s email address, has declared the winners of its API contest. The month long challenge invited developers to make innovative applications based on the Rainmaker API and in the process earn fame and some cool prizes. Rainmaker also announced a new developer challenge that is expected to run in August.